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Office of the Third Sector

Volume 472: debated on Thursday 6 March 2008

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what responsibilities the Office of the Third Sector has in relation to the Charity Commission. (191374)

The Charity Commission (the Commission) is a non-ministerial Government Department and is the independent regulator of Charities in England and Wales. In the exercise of its functions it is not subject to the direction or control of any Minister of the Crown or other Government Department. The Minister for the Cabinet Office appoints the members of the Commission’s board and conducts parliamentary business on the Commission’s behalf. He has policy responsibility for the law in relation to charities in England and Wales, including making Regulations and Orders under the Charities Acts. The Office of the Third Sector works closely with the Commission on matters of mutual interest, such as the implementation of the Charities Act 2006, while recognising and respecting the Commission’s independence.